Bluejay Basketball
Varsity Jays Battle Against Trojans
by Kendra Schulz
The varsity Jays Battled against the Trojans at Hartington Cedar Catholic High School on Friday, January 11. The Jays fell just short to the Trojans with a final score of 63-64.
In the first quarter, the Jays started out the game strong scoring 12 points, which were matched by the Trojans. Gavin Larson scored two three-pointers, Dawson Watts scored one two-pointer, and Carson Oestrich scored two two-pointers to end the quarter with a tied scored of 12-12.
In the second quarter, the Jays came out on top scoring 13 points to the Trojans’ 5. Larson scored one three-pointer, Watts made three free throws, and Dalton Freeman scored three two-pointers and one free throw to end the second quarter with the Jays ahead 25-17.
Going into the second half, the Jays put up eight to the Trojans’ 14. Larson scored two two-pointers, Watts scored one three-pointer, Oestrich scored one two-pointer, and Freeman scored two two-pointers to end the quarter with a score of 38-31.
Things got interesting in the fourth quarter as the Trojans closed the gap by putting up 25 points. To start off the fourth quarter, Larson scored one three-pointer, followed b y Watts scoring one two-pointer and three free throws. Oestrich scored four free throws, Freeman scored two free throws, and to end the half Carter Rohrich scored one free throw to tie up the game at 56-56.
In overtime, Weston Neitzke scored two free throws and one three-pointer, and Oestrich had one two-pointer. With the Trojans edging out the Jays, the final score of the game saw the Bluejays fall to the Trojans 63-64.
The varsity Bluejays have their next game Saturday, January 19, against the Battle Creek Braves at Pierce’s home court. Also, it will be parents’ night.
Varsity Boys Narrowly Fall to Lakeview
by Rhayna Waldner
The varsity Bluejays played the Columbus Lakeview Vikings on Tuesday, January 8. With the outcome of the game coming down to just the final seconds, the Jays were narrowly defeated 42-44.
The Jays started off the game slow by scoring only seven points in the first quarter. Dawson Watts put in two free throws, and Gavin Larson made two shots worth two and three points. Lakeview scored 14 points this quarter, making the score 7-14 heading into the second quarter.
The Jays found their momentum in the second quarter and scored 14 points and held the Vikings to seven. Larson added two more three-point shots, and Dalton Freeman put in a free throw. Watts made a three-point shot along with a free throw, and Carson Oestreich made a shot for two and a free throw. The Jays allowed the Vikings just seven points, and going into the second half of the game, the game was tied 21-21.
Coming out of halftime, the Jays scored seven points, while allowing 14. Scoring this quarter were Watts with a two-point basket, and Larson with two shots worth two and three points. With only one quarter left to play, the score read 28-35.
In the last quarter, the Jays came out strong by scoring 14 points. Larson and Freeman each added two three-point shots and Watts put in a shot worth two. Although the Jays held the Vikings to only nine points this quarter, the Jays fell 42-44 on a last-second shot from the Vikings.
The Bluejays’ next game will be at home against Battle Creek on Saturday, January 19.
JV Basketball Boys Defeat Trojans
by Sarah Miller
Pierce’s junior varsity boys’ basketball team hit the road to take on the Hartington Cedar Catholic Trojans on Friday, January 14, in a 38-24 victory.
The Bluejays jumped on top with a 13-6 lead in the first quarter with Logan Moeller hitting one three and Weston Neitzke hitting two threes. Chaden Roth and Luke Collison both scored two points each to add to the score.
The Bluejays kept up the scoring in the second quarter, scoring 15 points to the Trojans’ five. Zach and Luke Collison each had a three to up the score, while Roth had a three and a two-pointer. Tyler Race finished the quarter with four free-throws to add to the score.
After half-time, the scoring slowed for the Bluejays to 5-8 with the Trojans outscoring them. Neitzke had a three, and Moeller had two points in the third quarter to keep the Bluejays scoring.
In the fourth quarter, both teams came out slow with the Bluejays just outscoring the Trojans 5-4. Moeller came out of the quarter the only scorer with one three and a two-pointer, which led to a 38-24 victory for the Bluejays on the road.
Coach Tim Waldner said, “They played hard and kept working and tried finding a way to get things done.”
The next game for the JV boys is on Saturday, January 19, against Battle Creek at home at 3 p.m.
JV Bluejays Take Down Lakeview
by Rhayna Waldner
The JV Bluejays took on the Columbus Lakeview Vikings on Tuesday, January 8. With a strong start to the game, the JV Jays defeated the Vikings 36-19.
To start off the game, the Jays scored 13 points in the first quarter. Logan Moeller, Chaden Roth, and Weston Neitzke each put in a three-point basket. Carter Rohrich also put in a shot worth two and two free throws. Holding the Vikings to only six points, the score was 13-6 going into the second quarter.
The Jays stayed strong on the offensive end and added 12 points in the second quarter. Roth added a basket for two and two free throws, and David Dale made a two-point shot along with a free throw. Luke Collison also put in a two-point basket, and Shawn Rinkel put in three free throws. The Jays held the Vikings to just seven points in the second. Heading into halftime, the score read 25-13.
Coming out of halftime, the Jays lost some of their momentum and scored only four points. Neitzke put added two free throws, and Rinkel put in two points of his own. With the Vikings also scoring four points, the score was 29-17 going into the final quarter of the game.
In the last quarter, the Jays scored seven points. Moeller put in two free throws, while Mason Sindelar put in one. Also adding to the score were Dale and Roth, who put in a shot for two and three, respectively. Holding the Vikings to only two points this quarter, the JV Jays came out on top 36-19.
Coach Tim Waldner said, “I thought we were pretty solid defensively most of the game. Offensively, we executed fairly well and took care of the ball, even though we didn’t shoot great at times. We just need to get some reps in offense and keep working on shooting.”
The JV Bluejays’ next game will be at home against Battle Creek on Saturday, January 19.
C-team Boys Take Home 1st at Plainview
by MacKenzie Peters
The C-team Bluejays won 1st place in the tournament played in Plainview on Saturday, January 12. Four teams competed in the tournament.
The Jays first played West Holt, winning 38-28. To start off, Chaden Roth scored a three-pointer for the Jays, as well as Tyler Race, Luke Collison, and David Dale all scored two points to conclude the first quarter, leaving the Jays slightly behind as the Huskies put up 11 points. In the second quarter, Logan Moeller scored three points for the team. L. Collision also scored two two-pointers, along with Race scoring two-points. On the opposing side, West Holt scored just three points, ending the half with the Bluejays in the lead 18-14. During the third quarter, Moeller and Dale both scored two, and Race also scored two points after being fouled and making both free-throws. Additionally, L. Collison made one free throw and later scored a two-pointer for the Bluejays. In the fourth quarter, Roth made a three-point shot, and Moeller made both a two and a three-point shot during the final quarter. Once again, L. Collison scored one point from a free throw and made a two-point shot. The Huskies managed to put six points on the board during the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to overpower the Bluejays.
After beating the West Holt Huskies, the boys went on to play Plainview, who had just defeated Randolph. To start the game, Moeller managed to score three three-point shots. Roth and L. Collison both scored two points, and by the end of the quarter, the Pirates managed to score four points, leaving the Jays on top 13-4 after one. Entering the second quarter, L. Collison led in scoring, making a three-point shot, two two-point shots, and one free throw. Dale also managed to score a two-pointer for the team. The Pirates came back stronger in this quarter by scoring eight points, but they were still incapable of coming ahead of the Bluejays. After the first half of the game, the score was 23-12, Jays. Going into the second half, the Bluejays were able to score only two points, made by L. Collison. Plainview also struggled to put points on the board, scoring just two points as well. In the final quarter, the Bluejays managed to come back much stronger, scoring eight points. Ritter Oestreich made two points after making both of his free throw shots when fouled. Mason Sindelar made two two-point shots, as did Zach Collison, who made one two-point shot. On the other side of the court, the Jays defended the hoop and allowed only a two-point shot and a free throw shot to reach the hoop. The game ended with a score of 33-17.
“Our man-to-man defense was not good in either game,” said coach Zach Weber. “But we found a way to compete and come out on top.”
The freshmen will play again on Monday, January 21, on their home court against Norfolk Catholic.
C-team Bluejays Triumph Over Crofton
by Rose Graham
The C-team Bluejays defeated Crofton on Pierce’s home court, Monday, January 7, with a score of 56-50.
Scoring for the Bluejays in the first quarter was Chaden Roth with two three-pointers, Tyler Race with a two-pointer and one free throw, Mason Sindelar with a two-pointer and a free throw, Shawn Rinkel with two free throws, and Luke Collison with one three, two two-pointers, and one free throw. The Bluejays took the first quarter 22-17 over the Warriors.
In the second quarter, Logan Moeller had two three-pointers. Race and Lucas Gnat each had a three, as well, and Sindelar made two free throws and added two more points. L. Collison scored a three-pointer and a two-pointer. After holding Crofton to just five points, the Bluejays finished off the quarter soaring over the Warriors 41-23.
Coming out of halftime the Bluejays let the Warriors rally back. Race scored all the Bluejays’ points with three two-pointers and two free throws. Despite allowing the Warriors to score 14, the Bluejays still led after the third quarter 49-37.
In the final quarter, the Jays scored seven points to the Warriors’ 13, but their lead was enough to secure the win. Scoring for the Bluejays in the fourth quarter were Moeller with a two-pointer, Ritter Oestreich with two free throws, Race with one free throw, and L. Collison with a two-pointer. The Bluejays defeated Crofton 56-50.
“Crofton is a very talented team offensively, and we struggled to guard them at times,” said coach Zach Weber. “We relied on a strong offensive first half to carry us through. In the second half, they played really physical, and we backed away. We need to be able to handle pressure and execute our offense, especially when it gets close late in the game. I’m very happy to come out of that game with a win.”
The C-team Bluejays’ next game is Monday, January 21, at home against Norfolk Catholic.
JH Boys Take on Blue Devils
by Faith Lubischer
On Saturday, January 12, the JH boys’ basketball teams traveled to Wayne, and the A team won with a score of 44-38, but the B team lost with a close score of 34-35.
During the first quarter of A team’s game, Abram Scholting scored one three-pointer, and one two-point shot. Dawson Raabe scored two two-point shots. Ben Brahmer and Trevin Larson also contributed by each scoring two points to end the first quarter. The second quarter was a little slower as the Jays scored only six points compared to the their 13 in the first quarter. The six points were pulled together by two from Scholting, two from Brahmer, and two from Raabe. As the Jays went into halftime, they were down by six, but coming out of the half, they outscored the Blue Devils by eight points. Throughout the third quarter, Scholting scored three two-point shots, and Brahmer had two free throws, one three-point shot, and two two-point shots. To end the game, Scholting had one three-point shot, and Brahmer had two two-point shots and three free throws to end the fourth with a score of 44-38.
The B team started off the first quarter a little slow, by scoring only one two-point shot which was made by Deon Watts. Although there were only two points scored in the first quarter, the Jays put together 13 points in the second quarter. Deon Watts had two two-point shots and one three-pointer. Travis Emory had two two-points shots and one free throw, and also contributing to the 13 points was Trevin Larson with one free throw. Going into halftime, the Jays were down 15-19. Watts was the lone scorer in the third quarter by scoring one free throw and one two-point shot. The Jays had lots of contributors to the score in the fourth quarter, and the first was Watts with five free throws and two two-point shots. Trevin Larson and Dalton Svoboda each threw in one two-point shot. Gavin Sullivan also had one two-point shot and one free throw to end the close game with a score of 34-35.
The JH boys will next be traveling to Wayne once again on Saturday, January 26, to play in a tournament.
JH Boys Travel to Petersburg
by Kailey Marks
The junior high boys’ basketball team took on the Boone Central Cardinals on Tuesday, January 8. The A team sealed the win 35-29, but the B team lost 25-45.
Starting off with the A team, Ben Brahmer scored one of his two free throws along with a two for the team. Bode Hoffmann came in to score a two, along with one free throw. During this quarter, the Cardinals scored a total of eight points, making the score at the end up first 6-8 with the Jays trailing. The second quarter included Brahmer with a total of six points, Colby Anderson with a two, and Abram Scholting with one. Looking at the defensive side, the Cardinals knocked in four points for their team. Going into halftime, the Bluejays were ahead 16-10. Going into the third, Dawson Raabe nicked in both of his free throws. Then, Anderson swished a three for the team. Brahmer then banked a two to end the third quarter. The Bluejays’ defense let up slightly to let the Cardinals catch up to a score of 23-22. For the final quarter of the game, Scholting was on fire with two two-pointers, one three, and two free throw shots. Also scoring in the fourth quarter was Raabe with a two. Ending the A game, the Jays got the victory 35-29.
For the B team, the only scorer in the first quarter was Travis Emory with a three. To end the third quarter, the Bluejays were down 3-10. For the second quarter, they got into the groove of things, and Deon Watts racked up a total of six points, followed by Trevin Larson with and two and Tristan Kuehler, also with a two. To total up the second quarter, the Bluejays were still a little behind by a score of 13-18. In the third quarter, Watts whipped both of his free throws in, along with Schuyler Simpson making one of his two. The Cardinals had a strong quarter with 13 points of their own, so to wrap up the third quarter, the Bluejays were down 16-31. In the last quarter of the game, Simpson got wrapped up in a foul that led him to make one of his two free throws, followed by Watts draining a three. Caleb Newman sank a two, alongside Watts again with a two. The last shot of the game for the Bluejays was a free throw by Dalton Svoboda. With the Cardinals having another strong offensive quarter and putting up 14, to end the B game, the Bluejays fell 25-45.
The junior high boys’ next game is on Saturday, January 26, at Wayne at 9 a.m.